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RECOLLECTIONS 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 



SARAH E. DEXTER. 



CAMBRIDGE : 

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1S81. 









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RECOLLECTIONS 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 



I. 



OEVENTEEN years ago no organized 
effort had been made to reform and 
elevate the women in the prisons of Massa- 
chusetts. These wretched outcasts came 
and went as the terms of their often re- 
peated sentences were longer or shorter. 
Visitors to the prisons and houses of cor- 
rection gave them from time to time words 
of sympathy or reproof, but the thought 
that a regular system of reformatory teach- 
ing might begin, while the penalty of vio- 



4 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

lated law was being endured, had not yet 
come, even to the most hopeful worker for 
the good of others. 

To-day the beautiful and successful Re- 
formatory Prison for Women at Sherborn, 
and the Asylum for Discharged Female 
Prisoners at Dedham, plainly indicate that 
a great change has come, not only in the 
condition of the woman in prison, but also 
in the disposition of the more fortunate to 
help her. 

It is rarely that a change so great can 
be traced to the influence, the faith, and 
the labor of one woman, and equally rare 
to be able to learn from the study of a 
faithful life how God educates a soul for 
the work He wills it to do. 

It is in order that others besides those 
whom she called friend may have this 
privilege, and that those who are trying, 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 5 

even in the smallest way, to do something 
for others, may have the inspiration of her 
patient, earnest life, and its beautiful re- 
sult, that these records of the life of Han- 
nah B. Chickering have been collected. 

She was born in Dedham, July 29, 181 7, 
and was the youngest of seven children ; 
three of whom were sons and four daugh- 
ters. 

As the tender bud gives no outward 
sign of the brilliant flower which sleeps at 
its heart, so a childhood, peculiarly deli- 
cate, the only striking feature of which was 
an almost morbid conscientiousness, did 
not predict the strong character and will 
which in later years were to accomplish so 
much for others. 

Throughout her life there was in her 
character a strong element of self-sacrifice 
united to the utmost fidelity to duty. Her 



6 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

question was always, What ought I to do ? 
And the answer, when found, was unflinch- 
ingly met, even to the smallest detail. 

This entire consecration to duty gave 
her sometimes an overbearing manner. 
When obstacles were to be overcome, she 
expected as much of others as her keen 
insight into what was right made her 
demand of herself. 

Early in life this love of self-sacrifice and 
duty, always the willing servants of a rest- 
less activity which she was never without 
until the busy hands were powerless, caused 
her to seek something to do in the homes 
of her sisters, the children of the family cir- 
cle being always objects of her unwearied 
love and solicitude. 

As the years went by and courage came 
for enlarged responsibility, scope was found 
for it in the Sunday-school. As a teacher 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 7 

there she devoted herself to the children 
who were given into her charge with re- 
markable ardor and success. 

She was brought up in the Unitarian be- 
lief, but in early life became a member of 
the Episcopal Church from conviction and 
preference ; and was always most loyal to 
the church of her adoption, but with wide 
sympathy and charity for all others. 

In the year 1846 her home was for some 
years in Philadelphia ; while there she en- 
gaged most earnestly in church and parish 
work. Those who were then her Sunday- 
school scholars, now mature women, look 
back upon her teachings as having had a 
marked influence on their lives, and recall 
them even now with tenderness and grati- 
tude. 

One of them writes : — 

" The fact of my retaining any vivid recollec- 



8 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

tion through so many years shows how impres- 
sive and telling her teaching must have been. 
She was young and vigorous when she took 
this class of little girls, and her teaching was 
bright and vivacious, though always showing 
most careful preparation of the lesson and study 
of the Bible. In religious matters, as in every- 
thing else, her knowledge and opinions were 
clear and well digested, never superficial, and 
she was able to impart it in a distinct positive 
way ; and the result was, that in the minds and 
hearts of her pupils she laid a firm foundation of 
definite information for their use and help in 
after years." 

Another, who was also one of this same 
class of little girls, writes : — 

" Before knowing Miss Chickering I rather 
feared her. She seemed to me and others of 
our set of girls rather stern and strict. And I 
must confess it was with feelings of dread that 
we accepted her as our Sunday-school teacher. 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 9 

" Very soon, however, this all changed, and as 
we knew her so we loved and respected her. If 
one was candid and honest with her there was 
nothing to fear. But shallow excuses or at- 
tempted deceit were always laid bare and re- 
ceived no quarter. 

" Her strictness and thoroughness with one of 
this class, with whom she was more thrown than 
with the others, were of great benefit to her, 
though at the time it was thought very hard to 
bear. When she grew to womanhood and mar- 
ried, after a period of care and anxiety which few 
girls in her position in life have to assume, she 
developed into a beautiful Christian character ; 
and though the few happy years of married life 
were full of bodily weakness and suffering, we 
often spoke of the teaching of our friend Miss 
Chickering, and saw the things plainly which be- 
fore had seemed unnecessary and hard." 

Such is the loving testimony of some 
who were brought into close contact with 



IO RECOLLECTIONS OF 

her at this period of her life. And yet, as 
another friend writes who was also thrown 
a great deal with her then and watched her 
keenly, — 

"There was nothing then apparent in her 
character or habit of life giving promise of the 
eminent woman into which she so rapidly de- 
veloped in later years. Her life was so quiet, 
so retiring, so hidden within the family circle, 
or the scarcely less quiet parish work, it seems 
impossible to commit any of its incidents to 
paper for the public eye. She was a simple- 
hearted, earnest-minded, devout handmaid of the 
Lord, who did everything well, — one of those 
characters of whom you will expect a good rec- 
ord if life is spared, but who content them- 
selves with doing with their might what their 
hands find to do in that state of life to which 
God has called them. 

" I do not see how one can ever bring to pub- 
lic eye the record of such a life in its earlier 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. I I 

stages. That record is written above in those 
imperishable pages in the Book of Life, to be 
opened and read at the last day. 

" It is only when the field widens and the 
character and the work of such a person de- 
velops with it that one finds room and oppor- 
tunity to speak and write." 



12 RECOLLECTIONS OF 



II. 



A FTER a few years, Miss Chickering's 
home was again in Dedham, in the 
family of her brother. There she found 
much to occupy both heart and hands. 

A good deal of time was devoted to the 
sick, nursing those in whom she became 
interested, day and night ; and as she min- 
istered to their bodies she yearned with in- 
tense solicitude to help their souls. Many 
hours were spent in reading and praying 
with those whose spiritual condition made 
special demands upon her sympathy. And 
yet all this did not satisfy her. Ever, even 
from her busiest hours, an unknown, and, 
as she imagined, a distant field of labor 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. I 3 

seemed to beckon her ; and she was often 
restless with the desire to devote her life 
to some special work for the good of oth- 
ers. But no call came, and her life seemed 
to be lived in expectancy. 

An extract from a letter, which she 
wrote about this time, gives us a glimpse 
of this unrest, which she found it impossi- 
ble to banish, and yet notwithstanding 
which her life was thoroughly happy. It 
was written in 1854: — 

" I must, however, come back to myself and 
tell you what a happy life I am leading. I never 
enjoyed the opening spring and glorious June 
as much as this season. I have a very happy 
home, and I have had the privilege, granted me 
by my loving Saviour, of ministering to the 
spiritual wants of a dying fellow-creature. I 
hope to take such pleasure in telling you about 
it. 



14 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

" If such happiness can be experienced in 
leading one poor soul to Christ, what must be 
the bliss of those who have been long and suc- 
cessfully laboring in this blessed work. There 
is no position in which our Master cannot make 
us useful. I am fully convinced of this, al- 
though I have thought I was debarred from op- 
portunities of doing good. But if the Lord 
should vouchsafe to make me instrumental in 
leading one soul to the sure refuge, I shall have 
abundant theme for a song of praise which shall 
last through the ages of eternity. 

'* Wherever our Father places us, there will 
He provide us with work to do for Him, even 
though it may be only patience under apparent 
idleness." 

One who was intimately acquainted with 
her writes : — 

" It was always throughout her life a matter 
of interest to observe the promptness and firm- 
ness of her decision. Her judgment was un- 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 1 5 

commonly sure and unerring, even in the little 
things that are wont to come up day by day. 
She saw quickly what was to be done, and was 
at once ready to do her part, and more than her 
part, in helping on anything that needed to be 
accomplished. The motto of her life might 
well have been, ' Here am I, send me, O Lord.' 

" If it was her opinion that was asked, the 
answer was not an indifferent thing to her if 
she knew the questioner was sincere, even 
though she saw that he was not so much in 
earnest about his own matter as she was. If 
she gave her help to any one for anything, one 
felt that she gave a portion of herself with it. 

" Everything she said under any circum- 
stances was very much to the point, and was 
ever pervaded with the utter and uncompromis- 
ing truth of her character. 

" She had a quick perception of the ludicrous, 
and was most quick to detect anything false or 
inappropriate or weak, and keen enou ;h in ex- 
posing it when she deemed it proper ; indeed, 



1 6 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

her love of justice was so great that it some- 
times led her, as she knew very well herself, to 
be unjust in this regard, and to speak ofttimes 
when she wished immediately afterwards that 
she had been silent." 

In the spring of 1861 she visited a 
friend in Philadelphia, whose account of 
the visit and some of its events implies 
that Miss Chickering hoped the time had 
come at last when she might adopt a spe- 
cial method of doing good : — 

" The capture of Fort Sumter, the proclama- 
tion of war, the call to arms, the enrollment of 
volunteers, the formation of women's aid socie- 
ties for the supply of the soldiers' wants, — all 
these things threw Philadelphia into a state of 
wild excitement, of feverish, almost delirious pa- 
triotism, in which our little family of ladies par- 
ticipated, almost to the verge of frenzy. 

" Our eager desire was at once to do some- 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. I 7 

tiling ; and friends held out the hope that we 
might find employment in nursing the sick and 
wounded, either on the field or in hospitals. 
Filled with this hope Miss Chickering hastened 
home, to obtain the consent of her friends, and 
to make her preparations for a speedy call to 
the post of duty and of danger. But the call 
never came. Throughout that long and terrible 
war she watched the struggle with deepest in- 
terest, with unwavering patriotism, and with an 
anxious desire to help on the good cause by 
ministering to the bodies and souls of the brave 
men who were fighting the battle of a free and 
united nation. Again and again she offered her 
services ; but Boston was too far from the seat 
of war, and her more fortunate friends who were 
nearer enjoyed the privilege which was denied 
to her. 

" It seemed a strange ordering of Providence 
that her way should be thus hedged up ; but 
God had a far different work for her to do, and 
He was thus preparing her for it." 



I 8 RECOLLECTIONS OF 



III. 

TT was some years later, while visiting 
again this same dear friend in Phila- 
delphia, and through her instrumentality, 
that Miss Chickering's final inspiration 
came, and her thoughts were turned to 
the work which ever after engrossed so 
much of her time and heart. Th's friend 
gives the following account of it : — 

" I was in the habit of spending one afternoon 
in each week in visiting the women prisoners of 
our State Penitentiary in their separate cells, 
reading to them, giving them religious instruc- 
tion, and praying with them. Our friend asked 
permission to accompany me ; at once became 
warmly interested in the work, and never after- 
wards during her whole visit failed to devote 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 19 

the Tuesday afternoons to it with an enthusiasm 
and hopefulness which were surprising, and 
which were but the foretaste and pledge of the 
spirit with which she afterwards undertook and 
carried on the work for the improvement in the 
condition of the prisons and prisoners of Massa- 
chusetts, which was the crowning glory of her 
life. I will not dwell upon this work, except to 
say how peculiarly and exceptionally I consider 
that she was fitted for it by her strong faith, her 
cheerfulness, courage, and perseverance. 

" No one who has never tried it can begin to 
appreciate the difficulty of awakening a religious 
interest in the mind and heart of a convicted 
criminal, hardened, perhaps, by years of vice and 
wicked associations, and intent only on obtain- 
ing a remission of the penalty of his offence, or 
so cloaking his real character as to secure some 
substantial and material benefit from his in- 
structor. To get a hearing from such a person 
is a triumph ; to soften the conscience, warm the 
heart, and reform the life, is of course the work 



20 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

of the Holy Spirit ; but the agent employed by 
that blessed Spirit must be a woman of rare 
faith, who like Hannah B. Chickering, or the 
woman of Canaan, wrestles in persevering 
prayer for the answer which comes at last, ' O 
woman, great is thy faith : be it unto thee even 
as thou wilt.' " 

When this visit ended, Miss Chickering 
returned to Dedham, resolved to attempt 
some work for the women in the prison in 
her own town. All her life this dreary 
building had been a most familiar object 
to her eyes, and one of peculiar dread, so 
much so that she confessed that long af- 
ter she had outgrown the days of childish 
terrors her impulse was to run when she 
passed it. It is touching to think of her 
now turning her feet towards it for her 
first visit to its inmates, her only fear be- 
ing that she may not be welcomed, and 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 2 I 

her heart glad with the hope of bringing 
some word of help or comfort to them. 
She soon became a constant visitor at the 
jail, where her visits were so gladly re- 
ceived by its wretched inmates, that she 
had cause to believe that her heart's de- 
sire was realized, and that she might con- 
secrate herself to bringing light into these 
dark places of the earth. It was not long 
before a part of every Sunday was spent 
at the jail, where her plan of work was a 
service with religious instruction for all 
the women together; and then, when they 
were sent back to their cells, a visit to 
each, where with kind words and sympa- 
thy she could enter into their special 
needs. 

In a letter written about this time to 
the friend before mentioned, who sympa- 
thized deeply in her new work, are these 
words : — 



2 2 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

" I am still trying to do something for our 
poor sisters in our county jail without much ap- 
parent success, yet with full confidence that if I 
am planting good seed it shall not be in vain, 
through the power of Him to whom it is noth- 
ing to save, whether by many or them which 
have no power. To human view it is a hopeless 
field, and I feel so unfitted for such work ; but I 
am occupying what has been a vacant post, and 
until some one comes forward to fill it I feel 
that it must be my place." 

It is easy to see from this letter that 
there was much for her to contend with in 
doubts of her own power for such a work, 
and the very slow response which came 
from the poor souls whom she was long- 
ing to help. It was a new thing for a 
woman to spend so many hours in visit- 
ing this jail. And to a keen eye like hers, 
much might be seen in the management 
of the jail which would be no credit to the 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 23 

officers in charge. Because of this, it was 
some time before they welcomed and co- 
operated with her cordially. But her tact 
and patience won them completely in the 
end. The gift from the county commis- 
sioners and inspectors of the prison of a 
handsome Bible and Prayer-book later, 
showed how entirely her mission to it was 
appreciated. 

A library of books was placed by kind 
friends in the jail ; these she carried her- 
self, not only to the women, but to the 
equal needy men, whom she also gathered 
into classes for instruction. When the 
work became more than she could faith- 
fully do herself, others were interested to 
share it with her. Writing to her friend 
again after having visited her, she says : — 

" I find myself busy since my return, partly 
unsatisfactory business, but working towards 



24 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

spiritual results, although just now dealing with 
legislative committees, etc., which are as little 
spiritually minded, as a class, as any human 
beings in a Christian land. My jail-class wel- 
comed my return, and I was really rejoiced to 
meet the wicked set once more. I had been 
with good people so long, I was quite hungry 
for some of my sort of friends." 

After laboring in this way for a number 
of years, giving her time more especially 
to the women, and finding them often anx- 
ious to reform, she was met by this diffi- 
culty : What could she offer to the woman, 
who, when her term of imprisonment 
ended, desired to lead a good life ? Every 
honest door was shut against her ; to ask 
her to be good was to ask her to starve, 

Out of this necessity grew her beautiful 
thought of the Temporary Asylum for 
Discharged Female Prisoners at Dedham, 
as it is known to-day. 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 25 

When Miss Chickering first resolved 
that the experiment of such a " Home " 
must be made, she knew of no one, except 
a few personal friends who had caught her 
spirit, who was the least interested in the 
attempt. But her faith and courage were 
so strong that she seemed to infect others, 
and it was not long before those whose 
money and influence she needed were 
ready to help her. Again she writes to 
her friend : — 

" Led, as I believe, by the Lord, I was induced 
last winter to take some active measures towards 
the establishment of an asylum, and from that 
time I have been led along so rapidly that I 
could hardly keep pace with the events which 
have crowded one upon another. Surely, in- 
deed, may we say, ' Hitherto has the Lord 
helped us.' We have now an incorporated so- 
ciety, duly organized, with efficient officers. 



26 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

We have purchased a place in Dedham at an 
unprecedentedly low price, and have one of the 
best of women engaged as matron. We are 
being quite successful about raising funds, and 
have full faith that in the Lord's treasury there 
is already what we need. We hope to open the 
Asylum in October, and are in communication 
with all the county towns of the state, whence 
we receive candidates for the Asylum. 

" There has been a universal response of en- 
couragement from all, and unfailing testimony as 
to the value of such an institution. And now, 
dear friend, will we not rejoice together that our 
Master has allowed us to work for Him in this 
department. But for you, humanly speaking, 
this plan would not have been undertaken, and 
it humbles me to think of the loving-kindness 
which has allowed me to be an instrument in the 
work." 

With the thoroughness with which she 
always worked, she informed herself of 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 2 J 

what had already been accomplished else- 
where in reformatory work, and entered 
into active correspondence with prison 
workers both at home and abroad. But 
notwithstanding the help which was cor- 
dially given her, it required months of 
hard work, both from herself and others, 
before, on the 15th of November, 1864, 
the Asylum was set apart as a Christian 
home, one woman from Dedham jail being 
its first and only inmate. Since then 
nearly one thousand women and one hun- 
dred children have been received into its 
shelter. And to many of them it has been 
the only home they have ever known. 

For thirteen years she performed most 
faithfully the duties of secretary, which were 
light in comparison to the many others 
which she laid upon herself for the good of 
the Asylum. In her first secretary's report 
are these words : — 



28 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

" While many enterprises are begun under dis- 
couragements and frequent disappointments, this 
effort has been but a succession of blessings, and 
we have been allowed from the commencement 
to rejoice with thanksgiving." 

Every week for many years found her 
giving two or three days to superintending 
the household arrangements of the Asy- 
lum, and spending hours in close compan- 
ionship with the degraded women of whom 
the family was composed, over whom she 
obtained the most wonderful influence. 
Even when away from them, they seemed 
always to share her thoughts ; and besides 
writing constant letters of encouragement 
to those who were in situations, she seemed 
to carry the burden of their souls upon her, 
her deep anxiety and prayers for them un- 
derlying her most active moments. 

Deeply religious herself, she labored for 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 29 

their reformation with perfect, faith in the 
power of a divine hand to accomplish it, 
and in their entire capability of experienc- 
ing it. Sometimes the " Be it unto thee ac- 
cording to thy faith " came with marvelous 
quickness, — the rich reward when some 
apparently hopeless case, under the kindly 
influence of the Asylum, would blossom 
out into some unexpected flower of well- 
doing. There were many such, who are 
now honest and self-supporting women, 
who remember her with touching affec- 
tion. 

It is interesting to notice how the very 
faults of Miss Chickering's character 
seemed to help her to gain access to the 
hearts of this class of women. Through- 
out her whole life she was subject to great 
nervous irritability, making her doubt, 
when she repeatedly yielded to it, if she 



30 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

were truly a child of God. She realized 
deeply how much she needed the ever- 
recurring forgiveness for the ever-recur- 
ring sin, and it brought her into close 
sympathy with the poor souls who again 
and again tried her faith and disappointed 
her hopes by their repeated failures. But 
few ever went so far wrong that she was 
not ready to give them a fresh trial, and 
tempt them to a better life. 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 31 



IV. 

A S Miss Chickering extended her visits 
to the various prisons and houses of 
correction of the State, she often found 
difficulty in obtaining entrance to them, 
and discovered much, particularly with re- 
gard to the women, which was unwise in 
their management. 

Any mere visitor was of course power- 
less to work reform in practices which had 
been going on for years in a state institu- 
tion, and she saw how greatly a prison 
commission was needed for the State. 

It was largely owing to her efforts that 
such a commission was finally organized 
in 1870. It was composed of five gentle- 



32 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

men, with Miss Chickering and two other 
ladies to act with them as an advisory- 
board, empowered to make thorough in- 
vestigation, and suggest such improve- 
ments in the management of the prisons 
and houses of correction as they should 
find wise and necessary. 

The previous visits of Miss Chickering 
to these places had forced upon her the 
conviction that the whole system of the 
imprisonment of women was degrading to 
them, and that they were far more likely 
to be debased than elevated when the term 
of their sentence came to an end. Very 
little teaching of any kind was given them. 
Sometimes she found them in charge of 
and waited upon by men, who often treated 
them brutally and in a way to lower their 
self-respect. 

With her deep sympathy for them, and 



HANNAH B. CH1CKERING. 33 

her unbounded faith in the possibility of 
their reformation, she was led to think a 
great deal of the necessity of a separate 
prison for women, where the officials should 
all be women, and a regular system of re- 
formatory and religious teaching be main- 
tained. 

It was never long before Miss Chicker- 
ing's thoughts resolved themselves into 
action. At a meeting for the relief of dis- 
charged convicts, held October 27, 1869, 
this thought first put on the shape of a 
movement, and was communicated to 
others, beside the few friends who were 
all along her confidants and advisers in 
these matters. Soon after this Miss 
Chickering invited some prominent work- 
ers for prison reform, and others, to hold 
a meeting at St. Paul's Chapel for the pur- 
pose of informing the public of the need 
3 



34 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

of a separate prison for women, and arous- 
ing interest in the subject. This meeting 
was held November 27, 1869, at which a 
committee was appointed to take the nec- 
essary preparatory measures for the estab- 
lishment of such a prison. 

Miss Chickering read a paper in which 
she said that this meeting of the friends 
of prisons had been called by those en- 
gaged in the reform of this degraded and 
much neglected class, as they found their 
work seriously hindered by the present 
prison system of the State. 

In answer to the question, " Our prison 
system is not reformatory : how can it be 
made so ? " Miss Chickering replied : — 

" 1. That all who have the care of prisoners 
should be selected on the ground of fitness 
alone. 2. That the prisoners be classified, so 
that the young and comparatively innocent 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 



35 



should not be exposed to the corrupting influ- 
ence of old offenders. 3. That more care be 
taken not to let loose on society the more 
hardened and dangerous criminals. She feared 
that Massachusetts looked at prisoners too much 
from a pecuniary stand-point to act with true 
wisdom in the matter ; but if the State would 
try the experiment, it would soon find that the 
true economy is to reform and not simply to 
punish. 

" The ladies desire to call attention to the 
necessity of a separate prison for women ; of a 
separate reformatory or workhouse for confirmed 
inebriates ; and of the State taking charge of 
young girls who have no legal guardians. 

" The career of most of these poor girls was 
soon arrested by death, but not until they had 
sown seeds of destruction broadcast in the com- 
munity. Reformation was the prime object, and 
to this end instruction, secular and religious, 
was essential. The improvement of prison dis- 
cipline for females was their special work ; but 



36 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

she would also, in conclusion, call attention to 
the imprisonment of boys, the readjustment of 
sentences, and the subject of pardons." 

During the following winter the com- 
mittee held meetings and worked zeal- 
ously, until on February to, 1871, there 
was a brief hearing before the Massachu- 
setts Legislative Prison Committee, at the 
State House. Later, on February 24 of 
the same year, there was a full hearing, 
when also a plan for the new prison was 
presented. On this occasion Miss Chick- 
ering threw aside her natural timidity, and 
spoke a few earnest words in behalf of the 
project she had so much at heart. 

Among other things a league was formed, 
whose members circulated petitions for the 
prison ; which was very generally signed 
by residents of all the counties of the State, 
and afterwards presented to the Legislature. 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 37 

The bill for the separate prison for 
women was several times defeated, but 
was finally carried in 1874. 

All this involved incessant work of a 
most wearing kind for Miss Chickerinof 
and others. The former, besides all her 
official and state visiting and work for and 
at the Asylum, was at all the meetings and 
conferences, and inspired others by her 
own enthusiasm. 

Miss Chickering had hoped the cottage 
plan would be adopted for the prison. 
But when it was found best to build it 
upon the present plan, she laid aside her 
preference and entered with interest into 
every detail of a suitable site, and building- 
plans, with the committees and other cor- 
dial helpers who were found to carry it on. 
But when the enterprise was once fairly 
under way, and the hopes which had filled 



38 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

Miss Chickering's thoughts so long became 
a reality, her immediate work for it ended. 
It soon became apparent to her friends 
and to herself that the strength which she 
had given so freely for others was failing. 
Submissively she laid down one thing after 
another as it became necessary, rejoicing 
that willing hands were found to take 
them up. 

The following words, from a note to one 
of the managers of the Asylum and a per- 
sonal friend, shows how gladly she ac- 
cepted the aid of friends when she found 
her duties too many for her strength: — 

"1 am very grateful to you for putting love 
for me in the spirit of writing the report. The 
ladies of the Board of Managers are so kind 
to me that it makes me very glad. I feel 
so grateful that so many are ready to take up 
the portion of work that circumstances have 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 39 

devolved on me hitherto, and which, even were 
I in usual health, would be better done by being 
shared in by several. 

" If the work of the Asylum will prosper under 
the Master's blessing, I shall be reconciled to 
drop out of it, as it is by the will of the same 
loving Master that I am incapacitated by ill- 
health." 

Again, to the same friend she writes : — 

" The testimony you bear that the managers 
have an increasing appreciation of the value of 
the Asylum, and unabated satisfaction in spend- 
ing and being spent for it, is very gratifying 
to me. To know that the work that I must, 
for the present at least, relinquish is being so 
cordially carried on by so many loving hearts 
calls forth deep gratitude to the dear Master for 
whose sake it is done, and who places His bless- 
ing upon it by giving it a place in Christian 
hearts. 

" If anything can reconcile me to being di- 



4 o 



RECOLLECTIONS OF 



rectly referred to in the report, it is that the 
thought of me is entwined with your love for 
the Asylum. 

" I thank you for the sweet assurance of your 
love. You have been a true friend and valued 
worker from the very beginning. 

" ' Our little one' has indeed matured far be- 
yond our original anticipation. 
" Very lovingly yours, 

" H. B. Chickering." 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 41 



A LTHOUGH Miss dickering had 
shown herself so exceedingly active 
and practical in all that she had attempted 
to do, she was always extremely retiring — 
sometimes even painfully so. As a friend 
writes : — 

" She had an aversion to the show and eclat 
that often accompany such a temperament. 
Talking about what she did or had done was a 
thing foreign to her life. The carefully planned 
machinery of her work moved without much 
friction and made very little noise. 

" If she were at all reminded of what she had 
done in the past, and the way in which God had 
used her to bless others, she would say quickly, 
1 1 do not wish to talk about myself ; it was my 
natural impulse to be at work, to manage and 



42 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

plan and execute. I enjoyed it. The most of 
it was nature, not grace! 

" Perhaps she did not realize fully — who of 
us does ? — how much of the activity and im- 
pulses of her nature which it gave her pleasure 
to carry out was really the inspiration of the 
Holy Spirit, working out in and through her 
His own blessed will." 

It was greatly desired by the Managers 
of the Asylum at Dedham that a picture 
of Miss Chickering be placed there. This 
she firmly declined, closing the note with 
these words : " Let me dwell for a while in 
your affection and memory, and let the 
Asylum testify of the loving-kindness of 
our Father who allowed me the pleasure 
of beginning the work." 

The following testimony as to the man- 
ner in which the last few months of her 
life were passed are full of interest and 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 43 

teaching to all who remember how she 
loved the work and activity of her busy 
life : — 

"She was not much troubled — as it might 
have been thought that she would be — by the 
fact that she was obliged to give up active work, 
and rest for so long a time. She was glad to 
rest. She had considered the whole matter, and 
had given up completely all responsibility about 
active outside work, although to lay down the 
responsibility of thought and interest would 
have been impossible: these were held firmly to 
the last. As it proved, the period of real rest 
was short, and that of pain and suffering long 
and severe. 

" During the last years of her life she was 
deeply interested in the building of the Church 
of the Good Shepherd at Oakdale, near her 
home, and in the formation of the parish. From 
the time the church was built, she was a regular 
worshiper there, even after she became so in- 



44 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

firm that it was with the greatest difficulty she 
could get into a carriage, or remain for so long a 
time in a constrained position in church. She 
was a most reverent worshiper, her voice join- 
ing clearly and devoutly in the service always, 
and an interested and appreciative listener. 
During sermon time, her face and manner were 
always a help in the congregation. Although 
she seldom had an opportunity of speaking to 
them, she had a peculiar interest in the various 
members of the parish, frequently inquiring for 
their welfare, and making some of them, as I 
know, the special subjects of her prayers and 
watching all along, while she prayed and was 
interested for all. 

"During the winter of 1878-79, she was 
obliged to abstain from going to church, and, 
regularly afterwards until her death, she received 
the Holy Communion monthly and on special 
feast-days in her own room, together with the 
other members of her family. These were al- 
ways very happy and holy times. Nothing 
f L.ofC. 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 45 

seemed to refresh her and strengthen her so 
much as this blessed feast of the Lord's appoint- 
ment. 

" After she ceased going to church she asked 
to have a weekly private service of prayer in her 
own room. At those times she wished simply 
to be helped to take in, and more fully appreci- 
ate, the blessed truths which she had taught 
others so often and effectively, just to go over 
them and have them more real and plain to her- 
self. She thought she was lacking in real spir- 
ituality, and had very little feeling in religious 
things. Her life had been active and engaged 
so much with others, she had missed this, she 
thought. She had gone on rather from natural 
impulse than the right kind of devotion. 

" For a time she even had strong doubts 
about her acceptance with God, and feared she 
might be after all a castaway, because with all 
her past efforts and experience, and with her 
present knowledge that her life was nearly over, 
she had not yet overcome certain besetting 



46 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

faults. She had a continued thorn in the flesh. 
She knew that her nervous condition aggravated 
this, but she would not let it at all excuse it. If 
she were really right and thoroughly consecrated 
to God, she thought she ought to show the out- 
ward fruit of her devotion by learning to control 
her temper and her tongue, and by being and 
remaining at peace within and without. 

" With her tendency to think out a matter to 
its limits, and to look forward to possible con- 
tingencies and search into their relations, she 
knew her own case perfectly. She had studied 
her disease, and had before her mind the possi- 
ble forms which it might take. It is easy to see 
how her sensitiveness and quick apprehension 
of the meaning of the different symptoms and 
phases of her disease added to the burden she 
had to bear. She had a strong hold upon life, 
and an intense horror of certain kinds of death. 
But with all this she strove to give up all care, 
although the responsibility of thought would re- 
main with her. Her one wish, in this regard, 



HANNAH B. CHICKERING. 47 

was that she might be willing to wait upon God 
and endure patiently whatever form of develop- 
ment her illness might assume. In a most mys- 
terious way, God proved to her all the depth and 
reality of this wish and prayer of her last 
months, as He led her through so many forms 
of suffering and trial toward the end. 

" Her continued interest in the things outside 
her sick-room was shown especially during the 
Lenten season, which came a few months before 
her death. She wished to keep Lent. Her sis- 
ter was lying in great suffering and at the point 
of death in the next room. She was herself in 
continual pain and the weariness resulting there- 
from. It was a household of anxiety and 
sorrow. It might have seemed that all her 
thoughts could rightly centre there. What 
could she do to keep Lent who was already 
compelled so to deny self and bear pain ? She 
could pray for others, for the parish, and for her 
friends, and for Christ's Holy Church. She had 
a list of subjects to be prayed for each day, and 



48 RECOLLECTIONS OF 

she followed them up with daily faithfulness. 
Surely those prayers were not lost, nor that 
Lenten work fruitless of good and abiding re- 
sults. 

" She wished to hear about every service that 
was held, and always she was praying with us 
and worshiping with us in spirit. 

" She was intensely grieved at the more rapid 
illness and the death of her sister ; but the for- 
titude with which she bore her grief, and her 
own inability to see her sister or to help her in 
any way, was another lesson for all who saw 
her. As her life went on, nearly all the forms 
of her illness which she had contemplated and 
dreaded came to her one after another ; but as 
the worst approached, they had no power to 
daunt her quiet faith in God." 

When she knew that a few more days 
would bring her into perfect rest, there 
were hours of deep spiritual enjoyment; 
her mind, vigorous as when in health, 



HANNAH B. CHICKENING. 49 

seemed to reach forward and grasp in a 
measure what was so soon to be her's 
without reserve ; but her request was : 
" Say only that I was at peace ; more than 
this, if repeated, might indicate a deeper 
spiritual experience than I have ever had." 
She was long in passing through the 
valley and shadow of death ; but finally, on 
July 3, 1879, God, who had been with her 
all along, took her to himself — forever. 

On the morning of July 5th, after the fu- 
neral service had been read at the Church 
of the Good Shepherd at Oakdale, Dedham, 
many loving friends of Miss Chickering 
followed her to the village cemetery. As 
they stood beside the open grave, the sim- 
ple and unrestrained grief of a number of 
the inmates of the Asylum mourning for 
their " best friend " was very touching to 
4 



50 RECOLLECTIONS, ETC. 

the family and friends of the dear departed. 
One of these, now an old woman of sixty, 
who has for many years had a home at the 
Asylum, ignorant and friendless, but with 
her heart full of love for the friend who 
had done so much for her, asked at the 
following Easter that she might buy some 
flowers to place upon her grave, saying, 
" This is dear Miss Hannah's first Easter 
in heaven, and I want the perfume of my 
flowers to reach her there." 

. . . . " They cannot recompense thee, 
— for thou shalt be recompensed at the 
resurrection of the just." 



SEP 14 1901 



